Grizzlies Fire Head Coach David Fizdale

The Memphis Grizzlies have fired their head coach David Fizdale. The news were announced Monday afternoon via several sources.

“After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond,” GM Chris Wallace said in a statement by the team.

Though the Grizzlies struggled struggling as of late, losing 11 of their last 13 games, it seems as though Fizdale may have been fired due to the benching of the team’s star center in the third quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Gasol told reporters afterward. “I’m more [angry] than I can show, and frustrated. …If I’m not out there, I’m not valued. I’m sure they knew that would hurt me the most.”

Gasol is slated to become a free agent in 2019, and there has been much talk that he may want a change of scenery and that Fizdale may have added fuel to the fire with that most recent move.